Located in Brogue, PA., Allegro Winery has the ironic distinction of being located in a dry county (athough Allegro was grandfathered in, the apparent purpose of the county fathers was to keep other wineries from coming locating there). Originally started in 1978 by John and Tim Crouch, a winery was built in 1980, and a tasting room in 1981.

Join us as we talk with current owner/winemaker Carl Helrich about his old vine Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, planted in 1973, and the challenges of growing wine in humid conditions. The challenge here is that the mid-Atlantic climate is quite humid, making the grapes stay warmer through a shorter growing cycle. This gives the vines about triple the susceptibility to plant disease, and it’s not uncommon for vineyards to get sprayed 15 or more times during the season against various types of rot. “European-styled” is the best way to describe the wines here, with good acids and slightly lean fruit. Priced from $12-25, Carl bottles most as varietals: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, and Merlot – mostly from Estate or local vineyards. We also find the ubiquitous sweet/seasonal wines here as well, though Carl frankly admits that sales of the “party wines” are what subsidizes his love for and ability to work with vitis vinifera.

3 Responses to “Mid Atlantic Wineries – Allegro Vineyards – Video”

Great videos of the vineyard. Talk about some gnarly grapes…
This is one of the most educational videos you guys have produced. Really enjoyed hearing about how the grapes vines grow. I hope you have a video coming for each of the East Coast Wineries you visited!!!

Monthly Archives

Categories

About

GrapeRadio is a wine talk show. Show topics cover issues such as the enjoyment of wine, wine news and industry trends - the hallmark of the show is interviews with world class guest (winemakers, vineyards owners, wine retail / wholesale leaders, restaurateurs and sommeliers). The scope of the show is international so expect to hear many guests from around the world.

GrapeRadio has received numerous awards and honors including the 2008 James Beard Award for excellence in Journalism.

GrapeRadio has been the subject of numerous news reports by: The New York Times, Business Week, CNN, The Financial Times of London, and Wired Magazine.